Installation wasn’t complete on Orange’s new skate park before skate boarders from around the area were trying out the equipment.
Parks Manager James Lawrence said the park will have an official dedication in the future, but for now the skate pad at Sunset Park is open to the public during daylight hours.
Thursday afternoon at 12:30, skaters from Beaumont had arrived and were testing the ramps. By the evening, more had arrived. Gavin Austin from Nederland was one of those. He said he had seen a notice about the park on Facebook. The skate park is the only one between Beaumont and Sulphur, Louisiana, he said.
Children playing at Sunset Park came up to the skaters, who loaned their boards. Some of the kids began using the skate ramps as slides, going down on their rear ends.
Lawrence said the smooth concrete pad will probably also draw people with in-line roller skates.
The city designated about $131,000 from federal community development block grants to pay for the park. Rules have been posted that include recommending skaters wear helmets.
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